Tuesday, May 31, 2011
eNewsletter June
The summer edition of the eNewsletter for teachers is out. In this month's issue, I focus on backing up your files. This is especially essential for educators in Maine as they must turn in their MLTI laptop to be reimaged by their IT department this summer. There are tips and tricks for backing up your files locally to your school's server or your own pen/external hard drive, as well as backing up your files to the cloud. There are many more tips for backing up things like bookmarks in Safari and Firefox, your iMovie files, iWeb domain file, and even your Sticky notes on the Tech Tip of the Week web site as well.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
New Blog/Resource
The iDevices, or "Game Changers", as they have been called has inspired me to create a web page dedicated to implementing these devices into the classroom to enhance lessons and instruction in our schools. The district that I work in has seen these changes first hand with a few pilot programs this year using the iPads. Next year's budget will increase these pilots as we plan to purchase another 15 tablets. As these mobile devices take over our world, and we all know the kids will learn on them faster than we can catch up, it is important to develop a PLN of professions with tried and true practices for these devices and apps. For this reason, I have started a blog/resource page called iDevices in Our Schools. I'm hoping that this resource will grow as my own PLN helps to contribute ideas, resources, videos, and reflections on how they are using these types of technologies within their own classrooms. Any input would be great!
Friday, April 29, 2011
eNewsletter May
The latest edition of the eNewsletter is out. In the May edition of the eNewsletter I have included some great new links and resources for project based learning with multimedia and creating exciting new lessons to get your students excited, inspired and motivated down this home stretch of the school year. I have also included some great articles on technology integration that you can use your classroom. Please do not hesitate to ask for help too. Cheers!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Enrichment Day
Each year, our Horizon's teacher (our new PC term for Gifted and Talented), organizes a fun filled afternoon of mini-enrichment courses for the kids in our elementary schools to choose from. Teachers, middle school and high school students, and community members come into our school and offer their expertise and lead a group of elementary students for an hour and a half in their interest areas. This year we had courses that ranged from cooking dog biscuits for your favorite four legged friend, to playing the drums and guitar, to hiking techniques and science experiments at home. There were gardeners, fly fish tiers, golfers, and scrap bookers too. The students got to pick their top 5 choices and were divided into their respective groups for the afternoon.
I can't say enough about events like this one. To see children in a different setting other than in class is truly a special occasion and one that should be shared by all teaching staff all over the world. As a technology integrator, I miss the opportunities that I had had as a classroom teacher to connect with students on a one-to-one level and discuss their social lives as well as just their educational career within the confines of the classroom walls. I miss heading out to the ballpark to watch a student clobber a fastball into the outfield, or play their favorite concerto at their piano recital. A day like enrichment day, although it's only an hour and a half long, offers a quick insight into the true character of each and every child.
There were 20 kids that came out to learn about a golf swing with myself and our school custodian that moonlights at a local golf and ski sports shop. We taught them the basic grip and mechanics of the golf swing, and even let them use the back playground as a driving range. The students then divided up into groups and played a short 9-hole course that I had set up around the back field and even kept score on score cards that were designed in the computer lab. (We had to tie math into the event some how!)
All of the students loved the activity. Some were disappointed, and even frustrated at times, over their lack of confidence and ability to strike the ball with mastery, but that is the actual point of the day. Students that excel in the classroom didn't always master the activity for enrichment day and learned a hard lesson that sometimes extra practice is required to master a skill. Other students, and in my class in particular, that do not always excel in the classroom realized they could succeed in something new and unrelated to typical school activities and found a new love for a hobby that they hadn't tried before.
Learning can come from any where and every where! As educators we need to realize this and strive to think outside of the box and teach from all different angles in order to reach each and every child. I sure learned a lot from the enrichment day and I didn't even get a chance to attend a course. I can only imagine what the rest of the group learned in their choices.
I can't say enough about events like this one. To see children in a different setting other than in class is truly a special occasion and one that should be shared by all teaching staff all over the world. As a technology integrator, I miss the opportunities that I had had as a classroom teacher to connect with students on a one-to-one level and discuss their social lives as well as just their educational career within the confines of the classroom walls. I miss heading out to the ballpark to watch a student clobber a fastball into the outfield, or play their favorite concerto at their piano recital. A day like enrichment day, although it's only an hour and a half long, offers a quick insight into the true character of each and every child.
There were 20 kids that came out to learn about a golf swing with myself and our school custodian that moonlights at a local golf and ski sports shop. We taught them the basic grip and mechanics of the golf swing, and even let them use the back playground as a driving range. The students then divided up into groups and played a short 9-hole course that I had set up around the back field and even kept score on score cards that were designed in the computer lab. (We had to tie math into the event some how!)
All of the students loved the activity. Some were disappointed, and even frustrated at times, over their lack of confidence and ability to strike the ball with mastery, but that is the actual point of the day. Students that excel in the classroom didn't always master the activity for enrichment day and learned a hard lesson that sometimes extra practice is required to master a skill. Other students, and in my class in particular, that do not always excel in the classroom realized they could succeed in something new and unrelated to typical school activities and found a new love for a hobby that they hadn't tried before.
Learning can come from any where and every where! As educators we need to realize this and strive to think outside of the box and teach from all different angles in order to reach each and every child. I sure learned a lot from the enrichment day and I didn't even get a chance to attend a course. I can only imagine what the rest of the group learned in their choices.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches as AT in the Classroom
This is my first published article in Tech&Learning Magazine.
iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches as AT in the Classroom
iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches as AT in the Classroom
April eNewsletter
In this month's eNewsletter, I offer some advice on building your very own Professional Learning Network (PLN). Much like PLCs, a PLN allows you to create, collaborated and gain feedback any time and any where. Instead of meeting with your department, team, or grade level locally, a global education team is formed online so that you can enhance your lessons, projects and units. I have also attached some great articles on creating lessons and builiding PLN's with technology. Below are some great links to help you get started as well.
- Twitter Commands Blog
- http://cantondog.com/128/top-7-twitter-commands-everyone-should-know/
- How Web-based Tools Change Teaching and Learning
- Free ebook at http://newbay.ebookhost.net/dle/hpintel/3/index.php
- Classroom Video: Tools and Strategies to Engage Students in Learning
- Free ebook at http://newbay.ebookhost.net/tl/sony/1/index.php
- Web 2.0 Tools Website
- http://sdst.libguides.com/newtools
- Privately Share Videos for Portfolios
- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/03/3-ways-to-privately-share-videos.html
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Cloud Computing
The latest edition of the eNewsletter is out. In this month, cloud computing is the hot topic. What are the pros and cons of creating, publishing, and backing up to web accounts?
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